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Constitutional Reform Act 2005The Constitutional Reform Act 2005 is an Act of Parliament passed by the Parliament of the United Kingdom in 2005. It provides for a Supreme Court of the United Kingdom to take over the existing role of the Law Lords, and remove the functions of Speaker of the House of Lords and Head of the Judiciary in England and Wales from the Lord Chancellor. Legislative The Bill was originally introduced to Parliament in the House of Lords on February 24, 2004, and proposed the following, much more broad, changes: The bill caused much controversy and the Lords made amendments to it. The final Act keeps the post of Lord Chancellor, though its role in relation to the judiciary is greatly reduced and the office holder no longer is automatically Speaker of the House of Lords. Another major change is that the Lord Chancellor can now be from either the House of Commons or the House of Lords. Other measures remain generally the same as stated above though. The newly created Cabinet position of Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs (originally created to replace the Lord Chancellors executive function) will continue, although the holder of that Cabinet post will also hold the ancient office of Lord Chancellor too. The Lord Chancellor will remain as the custodian of the Great Seal (the bill originally intended to put this into commission). The bill was approved by both Houses on March 21, 2005, and recieved Royal Assent on March 24. The House of Lords will now have to create a new speakership position, as the Lord Chancellor will no longer be automatically speaker, most likely to be known as the "Lord Speaker" (the speaker of the House of Commons being "Mister Speaker"). The system of deputy speakers is also expected to be reformed. These decisions will be taken by the House of Lords for itself. A suitable building will have to be found for the new Supreme Court too - possibly either Somerset House or Middlesex Guildhall, both in Westminster, London. The act gives time for a suitable building to be found and fitted out before the Law Lords move out of the Palace of Westminster. Therefore the new Supreme Court will not take effect straight away. External links
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